Pest of the Week - Garlic Mustard

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a biennial herb in the mustard family Brassicaceae.  Garlic mustard is invasive plant native to Europe.

Garlic mustard is easily distinguished from all other woodland mustard plants by its characteristic odor of garlic and the tall flower stalks covered with numerous small white flowers in May.  The alternate, coarsely toothed, broadly triangular stem leaves with a distinct petiole are also characteristic. The garlic odor gradually dissipates by autumn, and garlic mustard rosettes may then be mistaken for violets (Viola spp.) or immature white avens (Geum canadense).

For centuries Europeans have used garlic mustard for a great variety of dietary and medicinal purposes. It is rich in vitamins A and C and makes a spicy addition to salads or cooked dishes.  It is thought that the plant was introduced to the United States by immigrants in the 1860s and was first recorded in Long Island, New York.

An average garlic mustard plant will produce 22 siliques, each of which can contain as many as 28 seeds. Studies have shown that a particularly vigorous plant may produce as many as 7,900 seeds although the average is more likely to be in the 600 seed range. The seeds generally germinate within one to two years, but may remain viable for up to five years in the seed bank. Seed dispersal is mainly by humans or wildlife carrying the seeds.

Garlic mustard exudes antifungal chemicals into the soil that disrupt associations between mycorrhizal fungi and native plants, suppressing native plant growth.  Because of this. garlic mustard has aggressively invaded numerous forested natural areas and is capable of dominating the ground layer. It is a severe threat to many natural areas where it occurs because of its ability to grow to the exclusion of other herbaceous species.

Garlic mustard flower
André Künzelmann/UFZ

Garlic mustard seedlings
DePauw University

Garlic Mustard Seed - Chris Evans

Here is a link to a short video covering all aspects of this plant in greater detail Garlic Mustard video

Because this plant is so difficult to eradicate once it is established, familiarize yourself with the flower, the plant and the habitat where it grows to find infestations early. Monitor sites regularly to remove plants prior to seed set. 

Additional Information

Garlic Mustard Video

Herbaceous Forbs - Garlic Mustard - Plant Conservation Alliance

Invasive species harms hardwoods by killing soil fungus - Harvard University

Zuwanderer unterdrücken das Wachsen einheimischer Baumarten - Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ

Garlic Mustard - New York Invasive Species Information

Pest of the Week - Pokeweed

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a native of North America and has become established in Europe. In North America, it is most common in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It grows as far west as Texas but is rare in the Great Lakes region. Its range extends north into Ontario and south as far as Mexico.

The scientific name for pokeweed is derived from phytos, the Latin word for plant, and lacca, which refers to the deep reddish purple of the berries. The most frequently used species name, americana, refers to its native land. The less common species name, decandra, means "having ten stamens." The common name poke is a contraction of puccoon or pocan, which the Algonquin Indians of Delaware called the familiar wild plant.

A native perennial plant that can grow up to 10' tall, branching regularly like a small tree. The stems are smooth, round, and hairless, varying from light green to brilliant purplish red. The leaves are alternate on the stem, simple, entire, with long leafstalks. Flowers are borne in elongated clusters called racemes. The pronounced clusters of berries are green when immature and ripen to a dark purple or black. Reproduction is by seeds.

Pokeweed Berries
Staff CDFA, California Department of Food & Agriculture, Botany Laboratory

Pokeweed Flowers
Brandeis University

Solitary Pokeweed Leaf
Auburn University

Because of the danger of human poisoning, pokeweed should be removed when discovered. This is especially true if the plants are in hedges, gardens, and other areas adjacent where children may be attracted by clusters of berries.

Additional Information

Forage ID Library - University of Arkansas - Cooperative Extension

Poisonous Weeds in Horse Pastures - Rutgers Univeristy - NJAES

Pokeweed - Penn State University - PennState Extension

USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

IPM Notes from October 2, 2014

Several weeks ago it was incorrectly stated that winter rye was growing where the sweet corn was growing. Oats are the correct cover crop that is currently growing there. The oat plants have some rust and cereal leaf beetle damage, and they will not survive the winter, unlike winter rye.

The field corn has a current moisture content of 23%. To harvest the corn the moisture level needs to be around 14%. Hopefully the corn will be harvested within the next week.

The popcorn has a current moisture content of 26.5%. Like the field corn the moisture level needs to be around 14%. As mentioned several weeks earlier the non-BT popcorn is showing plenty of corn borer damage. Some of the stalks have blown over due to the weakened stalks. The issue becomes can the popcorn dry down soon enough in order to be harvested, before incurring more damage.

The soybean show some stink bug damage, but should be ok to harvest in the near future.

In the demonstration plots the Spanish peanut crop had some foliar leaf disease and also peanut damage from voles. They are not yet ready for harvesting. The pepper plants rebounded nicely and have produced a nice crop the last couple of weeks. Also within the pepper plot the garden-in-a-bag plants have performed well this year. The ever-bearing strawberries are still producing fruit, and the June bearing plants look large and healthy. The sorghum plants have also done well this year.

There are no summaries for the insect traps. They have been taken down for the season.

IPM Notes from September 4, 2014

Winter rye is now growing in what was the sweet cornfield. More weeds are accumulating toward the backend of the field, since it is slightly lower, and more rainwater and moisture accumulate there.

The field corn is more dented. The kernel tips are beginning to get black layering, as the corn is becoming drier. The cob is still moist. The corn is expected to be harvested in about 2 weeks.

There is some concern that the popcorn, since it was planted later, may not be harvested in time. The popcorn looks healthy, but is showing some deer damage. Also, there is some corn borer damage and frass.

The high weeds noted between the popcorn and field corn were lambsquarters, spiny amaranth, jimsonweed and fall panicum.

The soybean plants look healthy and are as tall as they've ever been. The Palmer Amaranth weed mentioned last week was misidentified, so as of now there doesn’t appear to be any of these weeds at the BCCAC. This will still need to be monitored in the future. The soybean nodules look a healthy pink. The plants are showing insect damage from aphids, Japanese beetles, grasshoppers and stinkbugs, but not enough to be concerned. When a stinkbug pierces the pod, moisture and disease can result to the pod. Having many stinkbugs in the soybean plants can be a problem.

In the demonstration plots the Spanish peanut crop is beginning to show some foliar leaf disease and will need to be monitored. The pepper plants are showing some leaf drop from perhaps too much rain. The ever-bearing strawberries are still producing fruit, and the June bearing plants look large and healthy. Sulfur and water was used on the blueberries yesterday to lower the pH.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

Trap 1 (Fall Armyworm) – 2 moths, 1 fall armyworm
Trap 2 (Fall Armyworm) –7 fall armyworm, 1 each spider & wasp.
Trap 3 (European Corn Borer – changed 8/14/14) – None

IPM Notes from August 28, 2014

The open field where the sweet corn was growing has been seeded with a cover crop, winter rye, to prevent erosion and provide good tilth to the soil. If winter rye planted to early, it can be affected by the Hessian fly.

The field corn is in the dent stage. The kernels currently don't show the black layer formation, and the milk line may need to come down a little more. Most of the husks have open ears where moisture can enter, along with sap beetles. If there were an early frost, the corn would even need more time to dry down. More importantly, the open ears can lead to disease such as mycotoxins. Preferably one would want a tighter husk.

There is some concern that the popcorn, since it was planted later, may not be harvested in time. The popcorn will be of the red and yellow variety. The soybean plants look healthy, but within this field there appears to be the weed Palmer Amaranth. This is taller than the other Amaranth weeds, with longer petioles. The issue with this weed is that it's very difficult to eradicate, and has been spreading up to the Northeast. This will need to be monitored.

In the demonstration plots the pepper plants have made a nice comeback for the season, and the garden-in-a-bag plants have been doing better with water and fertilization. The strawberry and blueberry plants were watered Wednesday and look good. The peanut plants have some yellowing and may need additional potassium. The peanut and sorghum plants add two unique crops to the demonstration plots.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 1 each - ladybug, click beetle, noctuid
Trap 2 (Fall Armyworm) –1 each - bumble bee, chafer, fall armyworm. noctuid
Trap 3 (Fall Armyworm – changed 8/14/14) – 2 each – noctuid, fly, 1 each – bee, small wasp

IPM Notes from August 8, 2014

The walk began with a brief talk about the spittlebug, and what it leaves on the plant. It can suck juices from a plant, like alfalfa, and through its saliva process, leaves a small gooey substance on the plant.

Shortly after the IPM crop scout tour on August 7th, the harvested sweet corn was plowed under to prevent disease and possible insect damage. The open field will soon be seeded with a cover crop to prevent erosion.

The field corn is in the late dough stage, near the dent stage. The kernel substance is more starchy, but still milky. Most of the husks have open ears where moisture can enter, along with sap beetles. More importantly, the open ears can lead to disease such as micotoxins. Preferably one would want a tighter husk.

Regarding the field corn, an estimated 206 bushels per acre is expected to be harvested in late September or early October. This was calculated by taking several samples of 25 to 26 ears per 17.5 feet, then taking a representative sample of 5 ears and counting the kernels (length & width) of each. The average number of kernels (716) on each of the 5 ears times the average number of ears 25.5 (within 17.5 feet) equaled 18,258 kernels. This total (18,258) divided by 80 gave 228 bushels per acre on a normal basis. Allow for 10 percent imperfections equals 206 bushels per acre.

The popcorn is in the pollination stage having tassels and silks. There is some rust appearing on the plant, but for the most part the popcorn plant looks very good. The popcorn will be of the red and yellow variety.

Some of the lower layer of leaves on the soybean plant shows septoria leaf spot because the plants are quite tall from the rain. There is some beetle damage showing on the leaves. Also noticed were the brown stink bug and green clover worm. Stinkbugs can be an issue because they pierce the pod, suck the juices, and there is loss of pods.

In the demonstration plots the pepper plants look healthier with some added fertilizer. . The garden-in-a-bag plants have been doing better with water and fertilization. The strawberry plants were sprayed again for powdery mildew. They have been sprayed over the past month For the first year they look good.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

• Trap 1 (Black Cutworm) – 12 fall armyworm, 1 chafer beetle..
• Trap 2 (Fall Armyworm) –3 fall armyworm, 3 honey bee, 2 bumble bee.
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 1 bumble bee, 1 noctuid.

Pest of the Week - Fall Panicum

A native of North America, fall panicum flourishes throughout the United States except in some areas of the north central and northwestern states. It has been blamed for causing nitrate poisoning and extreme sensitivity to light in livestock. This latter condition, called "photosensitivity," results in severe burning and peeling of any skin that is not protected from the sun.

Stem and leaf-base characteristics of a typical grass.
Ontario - Ministry of Agriculture

Fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum) has a zigzag appearance as the buds turn out at the nodes. The zigzag growth pattern is one of the primary identifying characteristics.  It has a very rounded stem, grows to 7’ and there is a purple tinge to its inflorescence.

Fall panicum. A. Plant. B. Leaf-base. C. Panicle. D. 2 spikelets.
Ontario - Ministry of Agriculture

Strand Memorial Herbarium

Panicle, the name for the type of seed head produced by this grass, gives fall panicum both its common and scientific names. Because its seeds do not mature until late summer or autumn, the grass is commonly called fall panicum. Dichotomiflorum is a Latin word that refers to a distinguishing feature of fall panicum: the individual flowers (florets) are arranged in pairs.

Other common names for fall panicum include fall panicgrass, spreading witchgrass, spreading panicgrass, spreading panicum, sprouting crabgrass, and kneegrass. The last name is an apt description of the nodes, which are swollen, slightly bent, and very shiny.

Sometimes fall panicum is mistaken for johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) or barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli). However, johnsongrass has a membranous ligule unlike that of fall panicum and johnson grass seedlings also do not have hairs on the lower leaf surface like those of fall panicum. Barnyardgrass does not have a ligule at all and barnyardgrass seedlings might only have hairs near the leaf base.

Additional Information

Fall Panicum - Penn State University

Panicum Images - Strand Memorial Herbarium

Identifying Grass Seedlings - IPM University of Missouri

Botanical Dictionary - University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

IPM Notes from July 31, 2014

The trial sweet corn was harvested by Master Gardeners last Monday and Wednesday for a total of 2,200 and 1,900 pounds respectively. More of the corn will be picked Friday. Before the corn was harvested, various measurements of the 20 different varieties (20 rows) were taken on such things as stalk height, ear height, number of suckers, corn length and number of husks open. Normally the corn is cut-down soon after harvesting, preventing further disease. This corn was donated to Farmers Against Hunger.

The field corn is in the early doe stage. The kernel substance is between starch and milky. Although some of the kernels didn't fill the entire husk, and one appeared slightly curved, for the most part the corn shows good earfuls. They are expected to be harvested late September or early October.

The popcorn likes the hotter weather, but not over 85 degrees. It does not prefer the cooler nights that we've been experiencing lately. Since it is the latest cornfield to be seeded, it may be a buffet for insect and deer damage. The popcorn will be of the red and yellow variety.

Some of the lower layer of leaves on the soybean plant shows septoria leaf spot. The taller plants are showing signs of soybean aphids. Soybeans can take about 60-70% defoliation and still produce a crop that can be harvested.

The other soybean field with younger (and smaller) plants is now in the 3rd and 4th trifoliate leaf stage. The plants are outgrowing the signs of spotting, and also curling from thrip damage that was mentioned last week. Since this field was a no-till field, insect damage and disease (fusarium and septoria) early on seemed more prevalent.

In the demonstration plots the pepper plants, with some added fertilizer have bounced back. The garden-in-a-bag plants have been doing better with water and fertilization. The strawberry plants were sprayed again for powdery mildew. For the first year they look good.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

• Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 3 Japanese beetles, 2 black cut worms, 1 each of chafer beetle, click bug, sap beetle and noctuid.
• Trap 2 (Fall Armyworm) –2 Fall armyworm, 1 each of chafer beetle and wasp.
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 2 Bumble bees, 1 each of lightning bug and stink bug.

Pest of the Week - June Bug Beetle

The June bug  (Phylophaga sp) is a member of the Scarab family which was revered by the ancient Egyptians and isn't actually a "true" bug.  True bugs are members of the Order Hemiptera("half wings"). For members of the Order Hemiptera part of the first pair of wings is toughened and hard, while the rest of the first pair and the second pair of wings are membranous.

June bugs are memebers of the Order Coleoptera.  The name Coleoptera, derived from the Greek words "koleos" meaning sheath and "ptera" meaning wings, refers to the modified front wings which serve as protective covers for the membranous hind wings.  There are more than 400 species of June bug beetles (Phyllophaga spp.) north of Mexico, and they are difficult to distinguish.

June beetle. Photo by Laura C. Jesse
University of Iowa Extension

After mating, June beetle females dig a few inches into the soil to deposit their eggs, often near trees. Depending on the species. the grubs live underground for 1–4 years. During that time they feed on plant roots and descend much lower into the soil to overwinter.  In late spring the larvae pupate for a few weeks, within a small cavity in the soil. They emerge as adults but stay underground for another year until the following spring, when they crawl to the surface to fly, mate, and lay eggs.

Larval form of June bugs
Texas A&M
Photo by Bart Drees

June beetle grubs feed on the roots of grass.  The damage can appear as irregular yellow or dead patches.  Less severely damaged turf lacks strength and is more vulnerable to invasion by weeds.   During the second year of an infestation the damage becomes more apparent, because the grubs have reached a larger size.  The second year is the best time to apply insecticide since the damage usually isn't  extensive and an insecticide would be effective.

Additional Information

Hemiptera - Entomology for Master Gardeners - University of Kentucky

Coleoptera - NC State University

Managing Turfgrass Insects of the Northeast Part 2: Root Infesting Insect Pests- Rutgers University

May June Beetles - University of Minnesota

The Sacred Scarab - McClung Museum

IPM Notes from July 24, 2014

The sweet corn is now in the ear stage and harvesting on the more mature varieties should begin any day. In the open spaces between each of the four cornrows the taller weeds are once again making a comeback with the increased sun exposure.

On the other side of the sweet corn, the pollinator plants are doing very well. They are attracting many of the pollinators to the vegetable plants of Shared Ground on Centerton Road side. Municipalities are beginning to understand that using pollinating plants with the right species and height as sustainability projects in places like drainage basins can save money.

The field corn is coming along. The corn was planted 2 weeks before the sweet corn but takes longer to mature. Sweet corn takes about 60-80 days to mature, whereas for field corn it's about 108 days. The corn is pretty well pollinated and the ears just need to grow. It will also be awhile for the milking in the corn to be noticed.

The popcorn for the most part looks fine, although there are some signs of corn borer damage, and some slight leaf burn from the use of urea. Some of the plants in the taller soybean field show some very early flowering or R1 stage. The potassium deficiency mentioned last week now show greener leaves, as the plant is now absorbing potassium from the soil. On these taller plants can also be noticed soybean aphids. Hopefully ladybugs will be appearing on the scene (as they did last year) to consume the aphids.

The other soybean field has younger (and smaller) plants in the 3rd trifoliate leaf stage. These young plants are showing signs of spotting, and also curling from thrip damage. Since this field was a no-till field, insect damage and disease seem more prevalent. The plant should outgrow these issues in time.

In the demonstration plots the pepper plants, like last week, still show the effect of severe leaf damage by beetles. The daughter plants in the strawberry plants were cut back, fertilized, and sprayed twice for powdery mildew. For the first year they look good. The hop plants show foliage as weather worn, but are producing healthy large looking cones.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 2 click beetles, 2 moths.
Trap 2 (Fall Army Worm) – 1 chafer beetle, 1 armyworm.
Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – None.

Pest of the Week - Pennsylvania Smartweed

Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) is an annual and prevalent wildflower approximating 30-120 cm. in height.  The leaves of Pennsylvania smartweed are long and lanceolote to elliptic in shapre. Flowers are approximately 3 mm. in length and are light pink in color. Each bloom has 4-6 sepals which form slightly ovate grain-like structures. Flowers are arranged in elongated clusters approximately varying in length and width.

Pennsylvania smartweed is a member of the Polygonaceae family.  A key characteristic that all members of the Polygonaceae family have is that of swollen nodes. The genus name Polygonum means "many knees." These nodes are covered with a clear or whitish membranous sheath called an ocrea.

Rheum, sheathing leaf base or "ocrea"
University of Washington

Universidad Nacional del Nordeste

Pennsylvania smartweed ocrea
Virginia Tech University

Ocrea pubescence and size often help distinguish many of the smartweed species from one another.

Polygonum pensylvanicum

Pennsylvania smartweed, along with various other species of smartweed are a part of the buckwheat family. The seeds are a popular food source for many animals including ducks, geese, bobwhites, mourning doves, ring-necked pheasants, some rails, and many non-game birds. Some mammals such as muskrat and raccoons eat the plant or seeds.


Additional Information

Pennsylvania Smartweed Factsheet - USDA

Pecíolo y base foliar - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste

Increasing Your Knowledge About Smartweeds - University of Illinois

Armyworms marching through Mississippi

Armyworms.  Something we are quite familiar with here in New Jersey.  We don't always see the catepillar form, but the moth regularly appears in the weekly IPM report.  To read Delta Press article about the armyworm problem in Missisissippi click the link below:

Armyworms marching through Mississippi

IPM Notes from July 17, 2014

As mentioned last week, the sweet corn now has the tassels and silks appearing at the same time. The corn is now in the silk and earful stage and the corn could be harvested in about 10 days. The problem is the nearby field corn is also tasseling and there will be a high probability of cross-pollination with the sweet corn. This can make the sweet corn starchier and have different color corn. The sweet corn is showing some corn earworm and corn borer damage. Some sweet corn that is sugar enhanced, can last up to 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

The field corn is coming along. There is still some corn borer and cereal leaf beetle damage.

The popcorn for the most part looks fine, although there are some signs of deer damage.

The soybeans are in the 5th to 6th trifoliate stage. The top leaves are slightly lighter. This could be potassium deficiency. The plants are also showing deer damage.

In the demonstration plots the pepper plants look much greener, but like last week the leaves are being chewed by beetles. The strawberry plants are showing too much growth from the daughter plants and will need to be cut back. The strawberry plants will be fertilized. They will also need to be sprayed again for powdery mildew.

Bug of the week – June Bug

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

• Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 6 June bugs, 3 chafer beetles.
• Trap 2 (Fall Armyworm) – 4 Japanese beetles, 1 each of chafer beetle, bee, fly, lady bug and armyworm.
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – None.

IPM Notes from July 10, 2014

The sheep at the BCCAC were sheared today. This occurs twice a year at the BCCAC, summer and winter. The IPM team watched as each sheep was sheared, and the wool stored in large clear plastic bags for shipping and cleaning in Bucks County. The process took about five minutes for each animal.

A brief discussion was held on Timothy grass growing near the sweet corn. The grass is used by horse farmers. The leaves are curled and off color, due to the microscopic cereal rust mite. Farmers are not willing to buy as much if the grass contains the mites.

The sweet corn has the tassels and silks appearing at the same time. The corn is now in the reproduction stage, and the two ears are beginning to appear. The larger weeds noted in previous weeks are no longer a problem. After being fertilized recently the corn is looking better.

The field corn has some early tassels appearing. Looking at the outside rows of the cornfield, there can be seen damage from the corn borer and cereal leaf beetle. There were various beetles noted such as the Japanese, oriental, click and striped cucumber beetle.

The popcorn for the most part looks fine.

The soybeans are having issues with thrips, as the leaves are puckering.

In the demonstration plots the pepper plants look much greener, but the leaves are being chewed by beetles. The peanut plants are showing some slight leaf yellowing and may need some potassium. The hops are ready to be harvested. The sorghum plants have recently sprouted and are doing well.

Bug of the week – Japanese Beetle

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 3 Japanese beetles, 2 oriental beetles, 1 each of click beetle and fly.
Trap 2 (Fall Army Worm) – 2 each of lightning bug and oriental beetle, and 1 each of June bug and armyworm.
Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 1 each of click beetle, wire worm, squash bug and moth.

Pest of the Week - Flea Beetle

Because of their small size, enlarged hind legs, characteristic shot-hole damage, and habit of jumping when disturbed make flea beetles easy to identify.

Epitrix sp. - Texas A&M

There are numerous flea beetle species. All flea beetles are tiny, less than 0.10 inch long, and jump like fleas when disturbed.

North Carolina State University

There are numerous species of flea beetles are found in New Jersey (Table 1). Although there is some overlap of tastes, each type of flea beetle has a preference for particular plants. For example, some flea beetles feed only on potatoes, tomatoes and other members of the nightshade family. Others have a taste for broccoli, cabbage and other cole crops.

 Systena blanda - Palestriped flea beetle
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, www.insectimages.org

Natural History
Flea beetles spend the winter in the adult stage, hidden under leaves, dirt clods or in other protected sites. They typically begin to become active during warm days in midspring but may straggle out over several weeks. Many flea beetles are strong fliers and seek out emerging host plants, which they locate by chemical cues the plants produce.

The adults feed for several weeks. Soon the females intersperse feeding with some egg laying. They lay eggs in soil cracks around the base of the plants. The minute, worm-like larvae then move to feed on small roots and root hairs. With the exception of the tuber flea beetle, an occasional pest of potato tubers, larval feeding is not considered to cause significant plant injury. The larval stage is typically completed in about a month. The insects pupate, then emerge from the soil as adults. There may be a second generation during the summer and, with a few species, a third generation.

Dozens of species of flea beetles are found in New Jersey (Table 1). Although there is some overlap of tastes, each type of flea beetle has a decided preference for certain plants. For example, some flea beetles feed only on potatoes, tomatoes and other members of the nightshade family. Others have a taste for broccoli, cabbage and other cole crops.

Although flea beetles are common, injuries often are insignificant to plant health. On established plants, 10 to 20 percent or more of the leaf area must be destroyed before there is any effect on yields. The plants most likely to benefit from treatment are more sensitive seedlings, plants grown for ornamental purposes or for edible greens, and potatoes that may be affected by tuber flea beetle larvae.

As flea beetles feed, they create small rounded, irregular, holes in the leaves, resulting in what is know as a shot hole appearance.

Flea beetle damage - University of Arkansas

Controls
Garden insecticides containing carbaryl (Sevin), spinosad, bifenthrin and permethrin can provide fairly good control for about a week. However, to protect seedlings, applications usually must be reapplied. The plants produce continuous new growth and the highly mobile beetles may rapidly reinvade plantings. As with all pesticides, carefully read and follow all label directions. Pay particular attention to ensure that any flea beetle insecticides being considered are properly registered for use on the plants.

Diatomaceous earth is one of the more effective repellents, applied as a dry powder to the plants. Horticultural oils and some neem insecticides also have some repellent effect on this insect.

Table 1: Some common flea beetles
Common name	Scientific names	Host plants, comments
Cabbage flea beetle	Phyllotreta cruciferae	Wide host range, primarily of cabbage family plants (Cruciferae family). The most damaging species in the state. Two and occasionally three generations are typical.
Palestriped flea beetle	Systena blanda	Has the widest host range of all flea beetles including squash, beans, corn, sunflowers, lettuce, potatoes and many weeds.
Potato flea beetles	Epitrix cucumeris, E. subcrinita, E. parvula	Tomato, potato and other nightshade family plants.
Tobacco flea beetle	Epitrix hirtipennis	Eggplant and some other nightshade family plants. Most common in warmer areas of the state.
Tuber flea beetle	Epitrix tuberis	Potatoes. Larvae are associated with tuber injuries.
Horseradish flea beetles	Phyllotreta armoraciae, P. albionica	Horseradish, occasionally other mustards.
Corn flea beetle	Chaetocnema pulicaria Melscheimer	Corn flea beetles remove remove leaf tissue of corn as they feed and leave long scratch marks on the leaves.
*Sumac flea beetle	Blepharida rhois	Currants, sumac, skunkbrush.
* Willow flea beetles	Disonycha spp.	Willow.
* Species that have larvae that feed on leaves, similar to other leaf beetles

Additional Information

Insect and related pests of vegetables _ North Caroline State University

Vegetable Resources - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Corn flea beetle - University of Illinois IPM

Neem, a Botanical Insecticide - Montana State University

IPM Notes from July 3, 2014

The sweet corn is in leaf stage 7. The majority of weeds in this cornfield have died from spraying. The corn has also recently been fertilized and does not show the recent firing at the base of the plant from last week. The sweet corn shows some damage from the cereal leaf beetle. Other bugs noted were the sap beetle, click beetle and plant bug. Much of the sweet corn damage was seen from the European corn borer. The corn borer holes were noted in the foliage, as well as the frass, and several corn borers were found inside the corn plant, which is non-BT corn.

The field corn is in leaf stage 9. The field corn next to the wheat field still shows a tremendous amount of window paining from the cereal leaf beetle, even on the newer growth. The larger leaf of this variety of corn grows in a more vertical direction, thus receiving more sunlight and capable of being planted closer together, thus increasing yield.

The popcorn is in leaf stage 3 and will be side-dressed possibly today, with urea fertilizer. There were some Japanese beetles on the popcorn and this will need to be monitored.

The soybeans are just sprouting and are in the second trifoliate phase.

The wheat was harvested this past Monday. The new crop to be planted on this no-tilled field will be soybeans. There were several types of weeds on this field, which will need to be killed before planting.

In the demonstration plots bacterial leaf spots on the tomato plants may be coming from the straw that was laid down as a barrier to weeds.. The two outside rows of the strawberry plot have powdery mildew, and were sprayed again today. The peanut and pepper plants have rebounded and are performing much better. The hops show a disease on the leaves that need to be determined. The sorghum plants have recently sprouted and are doing well.

Weed of the week – Pepper weed

Bug of the week – Flea beetle

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

• Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 3 oriental beetles.
• Trap 2 (Fall Army Worm) – 4 true armyworms, 3 chafer bugs, 2 lightning bugs, and 1 each of ladybug and syrphid bug.
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – Nothing

IPM Notes from June 26, 2014

The sweet corn is in leaf stage 5. The weeds in the sweet corn field, as noted in the IPM notes the last two weeks, were recently sprayed and many are dying off. It remains to be seen if the larger weeds at the far end of the field will be killed-off. The larger the weed the more difficult to eliminate. The sweet corn is firing at the base and will need to be sprayed with nitrogen. The cereal leaf beetle is also a minor problem.

The field corn is in leaf stage 7. The field corn next to the wheat field shows a tremendous amount of window paining from the cereal leaf beetle. The beetle has left the drying wheat field for the greener field corn. There is also evidence of fras in the corn from the European corn borer.

The popcorn was planted last week and is already sprouting. The popcorn will be alternating with three rows of red and three rows of the yellow variety this year.

The soybeans are just sprouting and are in the unifoliate phase. A few have been eaten by deer or groundhog.

The wheat field is still drying out. Much of the wheat from the edge of the field have missing heads. These have been eaten by deer and birds.

The alfalfa field was just cut several days ago for the second time this year. A plastic 18 inch square was thrown into the field several times to randomly estimate the percentage of alfalfa, orchard grass and weeds that were growing. The alfalfa field still shows a fairly good growth of alfalfa and orchard grass in its second year. The alfalfa field was swept with nets, and a fair amount of small alfalfa weevils were found. They should be monitored in the future.

In the demonstration plots bacterial leaf spots were found on the tomato plants. The two outside rows of the strawberry plot still show powdery mildew, and will have to be sprayed again. The peanut plants show some light coloring in the leaves and will need potassium. The hops show a disease on the leaves. The peppers have rebounded slightly after being sprayed with water and epsom salts, and fertilized.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

• Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 1 each of a lady bug and bumble bee.
• Trap 2 (Fall Army Worm) – 4 Fall armyworms, 1 bumble bee, 1 lightning bug.
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 2 lightning bug, 1 lygus bug, 1 plant bug.

IPM Notes from June 19, 2014

The sweet corn is in leaf stage 5. As was noted last week the various weeds in the sweet cornfield are now taller and will become more difficult to manage if not sprayed with a pesticide soon. One needs to know what the weeds are, and then use the proper pesticide or pesticide combination on them. The predominate weeds are curly doc, jimson weed, velvetleaf and lambs quarter. Also, the sweet corn has different heights. This is due not so much to the different varieties being grown, but more so to standing water in the lower field levels from last week's rain.

The field corn is in leaf stage 6. It is past the milk stag and into the doe stage. The field corn shows some window paining from the cereal leaf beetle, but looks very good. The field corn was sprayed with nitrogen on Wednesday, the day before.

The alfalfa field was cut once already this season and will be cut this weekend for a second time. Usually alfalfa is cut when about 10 percent of its flowers are in bloom.

The wheat field still has moisture issues as it continues to dry down. The wheat field also contained many mature cereal leaf beetles.

The popcorn was recently planted this past week and will be the red and yellow variety.

The demonstration plots are looking fairly well, but there are a few issues. The pepper plants are suffering from too much water and perhaps too many woodchips from the mulch used last year and this year. The plants are showing leaf drop and a much lighter leaf color. They were sprayed last weekend with a mixture of one gallon water and one tablespoon epsom salts (magnesium). They were also fertilized today as well. The strawberry plants showed some powdery mildew, which may have come from the straw (wheat) that was used. The hop plants showed some tent caterpillars.

Below are the summaries for the insects caught in the three insect traps.

• Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 3 black cut worm.
• Trap 2 (Fall Army Worm) –2 flies of the diptera species
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 1 each of European Corn Borer and chaffer bug.

IPM Notes from June 12, 2014

A Field Guide to Weedy Plants of New Jersey was issued at the beginning of the IPM walk today. It's a small pamphlet, published by Rutgers University, containing pictures of some of the most common weedy plants in NJ. Some of the weeds noted on the IPM walk today were white and red clover, curly dock, velvet leaf, spiny and red amaranth, red thread and cheat grass.

The sweet corn currently is in leaf stage 3 and 4. Due to the longer winter, current cooler, rainy weather, the number of growing degree-days has been considerably less than what it normally should be for this time of year, and hence the sweet corn (and field corn) are smaller than what they should be. The sweet corn field is also beginning to accumulate more weeds due to lack of foliage cover from the smaller sweet corn. The sweet corn will also need to be side-dressed with nitrogen, as the plants begin to show some slight yellowing.

The field corn is currently around leaf stage 5, and will also need to be side-dressed with nitrogen. It's important not to fertilize before a heavy rain, since the fertilizer can simply wash away before the roots have a chance to take it in. Also its important not to fertilize all at once, but fertilize when needed over time. Know your plant and its fertilizer needs. The field corn also has a 5 to 10 percent issue with suckers, due to the variety grown.

The rainy weather shows the flag leaf of the wheat crop having cereal leaf beetle damage, rust, powdery mildew and brown root rot. The wheat grain hopefully will not be affected by headscab disease and mycotoxins. How much resistance does this wheat crop variety have to disease?

In the demonstration plots the peanut plants are showing strong new growth after being eaten by deer and/or groundhog. The strawberry plants are doing very well. The June bearing berries varieties of Chandler and All-Star are very sweet, while the everbearing berry Tribune will ripen later. The hop plants look healthy for the most part, but show some leafhopper damage. The suckers need some pruning. The blueberry plants have improved from a year ago with some protective caging, and the berries should be ready in another month. Some of the pepper plant leaves look light green and probably should be sprayed with water and epsom salts. The tomato plants and herb plants look healthy.

Once again, there were not many insects caught in the three insect traps. This may be due to the cooler, rainy weather. The summaries are below.

• Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 1 each of black cut worm, sap beetle, lightning bug and lady bug.
• Trap 2 (Fall Army Worm) – 1 true army worm
• Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – 1 each of European Corn Borer, click beetle and noctuide.

IPM Notes from May 29, 2014

Before the IPM walk today some literature was passed out regarding the various growth stages of wheat, what pests are prevalent at that stage, and the sampling method used for the respective pest. The current growth stage using the Feekes method is stage 11. This is also the beginning of the dry-down stage for the wheat. A diagram of a wheat kernel, showing the endosperm, bran and germ was also shown.

The actual walk through the wheat field still shows a fair amount of bluegrass. Due to the recent rain and cool cloudy weather the flag leaf and below the flag leaf are showing early signs of disease, powdery mildew, and insect problems from the cereal leaf beetle. The wheat field needs some sunny, hot, dry weather soon, or the problem will worsen. Current wheat harvest date is July 4.

The soil temperature was taken in the sweet corn field and found to be only 58 degrees. The cool weather is about a month behind what it should be, and hence, the crops are smaller too. Several estimates were taken in the sweet corn field to determine the yield per acre. One 17.5-foot row contained 24 plants, while another 17.5-foot row contained 16 plants. Since 17.5 feet is estimated to be 1/1000 of an acre, one can estimate 24,000 and 16,000 plants per acre. The difference in count could be due to different cultivars being counted and estimated.

The field corn is at stage 3. The field corn plants are showing much slug damage since it was planted in a no-till field having soybean residue to harbor the slugs throughout the winter and wet spring. There was some cereal leaf beetle damage as well.

Walking through the alfalfa field a few alfalfa weevils were noticed. The alfalfa grass is fed to the sheep, but is too rich a diet for feeding horses. Orchard grass is also present within the alfalfa field.

Among the weeds noticed were cheat grass, orchard grass, Italian rye, ragweed and curly doc.

• From Trap 1 (Black CutWorm) – Only 1 black cut worm was found. 
• From Trap 2 (Fall ArmyWorm) – Only 1 bee, and 2 Army Worm moths fond. 
• From Trap 3 (European Corn Borer) – Only 1 ladybug found. 

In the demonstration plots, some of the new pepper plants were eaten by either deer, groundhog or rabbit. The strawberry plot looks good, having a few berries ripen. The hop plants are showing some damage from either thrips or leafhoppers.

IPM Notes from May 15, 2014

Prior to the walk in the field, Bill spoke briefly about GMOs.  He said no GMOs get in soybean oil because the protein of the GMO food does not get in the oil.  He also distributed two articles from independent groups regarding GMOs and Monsanto: Straight Talk on Genetically Engineered Foods produced by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit education and advocacy organization that focuses on improving the safety and nutritional quality of our food supply; and Monsanto v. Monarch Butterflies produced by Genetic Literacy Pro, where science trumps ideology.

Eleven soil samples were taken for a soil test of the field between the rye and pollinator traps.  When taking samples the following observations must be made:  soil type, topography for low areas and the entire field must be walked.  Three samples were taken from the headland area, one from the low area and the remaining from areas zigzagged through the field.  The headland area is the curve of the plow at the corners of the field.  At least two samples should be taken there. Samples from the field should be 6 – 8” deep and home samples 4 – 6” deep. Soil tests should be done every 3 years.  It is best to mix the sample soil when it is moist and then dry it.

Extra soil should not be added to low areas of a field as the texture will be different and with the new layer, the soil drains will drain differently.  It is best to put in a drain pipe or create a waterway.

Weeds identified:

·       Winter annual bluegrass (boat shaped leaf and seeding now)

·       Mares tail

·       Purple deadnettle (square stem)

·       Wild geranium

·       Purple vetch (used for erosion control, plant has tendrils and in legume family, takes nitrogen from the atmosphere)

·       Blue eyed grass (used for hay)

·       Red clover

·       Lambs quarter

·       Curly dock

·       Cheat grass

·       Pennsylvania smartweed

A rye cover crop was planted in the fall and plowed over.  Some was still there and observed were small grains or awns which were flat.  Deer do not eat rye. At the edge of the field was some rye that was pollinated and the pollen is visible on the seed head.

Tilling soil versus no tilling:  Soil has pore space and tilling increases this space. Soil particles contain 50% oxygen and water.  Opening up the soil increases infiltration, there is better germination and tilling gets rid of weeds.  No tilling puts a slit in the soil keeping the soil in place.  The farmer can cover more acres quicker. No tilling can cause a buildup of insects and diseases so soil needs to be tilled every once in a while.

Plot reports:

Strawberries - more straw is needed and was picked up May 13. There are no visible pests yet.

Peanuts – Spanish peanuts were planted which are a smaller peanut (like a bar mix) than the Virginia peanut. Spanish peanuts have a shorter growing season better in our climate.  The plants are yellowing at the top showing potassium, K, deficiency which will be added. Peanuts can have a calcium, CA, deficiency because of the shell and farmers put gypsum down to replenish it. If there is a nitrogen, N, deficiency, the plant robs itself of the N and the bottom of the plant shows the deficiency. Peanut plants have a peg under the soil which fruit under the soil.  Pegs should be planter higher so rain will drain from the plants.

Hops – Hops are seasoning for beer, some for bittering and others are for aroma.  The plants need to be pruned back now leaving an extra leader branch, or runner in case one dies on the string. Some plant should be left at the bottom when pruning. There are two runners per string.  Burlington County has 3 commercial hop growers.

Maturity time of crops was discussed.  For corn, 100 days may be stated from planting to plant maturity, but the corn may not be ready for harvest at that time. This applies to all crops.

Wheat field - The wheat field should be harvested by July 4.  The two top flag leaves are responsible to feed nutrition to the wheat seed head.  Powderly mildew was observed starting on the plants. The mildew must be watched and the top 2 flag leaves must be protected from it.  Rain and cooler weather is due so the crop may need spraying.  Spraying can be done with narrow, high-tire sprayers or airplane.  Airplane is expensive.

Some spots were observed.  Yellow on the outside and dark on the inside could be disease, fungus or rust.  Solid yellow spots are dead tissue and fertilizer burn.  Curved tops of the seed head are a genetic problem.

Cereal leaf beetles where found which do the window paning of the leaves.

Insect traps – were set at the corners of the corn field with the following pheromones:

1.     Black cutworm

2.     Fall army worm

3.     European corn borer

Trap colors are yellow and green which attract insects.

Birds were also spotted in the corn field.  Need to watch them as they eat seed.

Popcorn will be planted in the field south of the demo plots.

Notes by compiled Marilyn Bidrawn